Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-30
KANSAS CROPS.

To a very large extent the prosperity
Os Kansas in the immediate future de-
ponds upon the crop that will be harvest
ed in the state this summer
The great majority of those who come
west for the purpose of settling, will
come with the expectation of farming.
This is, and must remain for years to
come, an agricultural state. The other
industries of the state, while adding
largely to our prosperity, are, as com.
pared with agriculture, very insignif,
cant, and such must be the case for a
| generation at least. For this reason the
failure of crops in Kansas far more than
it does in the manufacturing states of the
East.
1t has been noticed in the past that a
poor year on the farmers has been fol-
flowed by a great falling off in immigra-
ton, while years of plenty have been fol-
lowed by great increase of the number
of settlers that have come in. For years
past we have been blessed with abundant
crops and in consequence there never
was so rapid an increase of onr popula-
ton.
The fact then that the harvest being
gathered is a good one is very cheer
ing to those who are here, not only be-
cause it means plenty of the necessaries
of life, but because it means continu-
ance of the BOOM There are those who
seem to have fear of the word boom, !"
and we find many of our exchanges pro-
testing that their towns have no boom.
There are booms, and booms. Kansas is
in the enjoyment of good healthy BOOM
boom that is bringing to the state tens
of thousands of settlers and millions of
capital. We desire to see this state of
affairs continue and we gladly record
facts that point to its continuance From
the Topeka Capital of the 23rd inst, we
Grip the following:
The recent report made by Major Will
Sims, Secretary of the State Board of
Agriculture, from information received
from over 800 correspondents in all Sec
tons of Kansas indicates very encour-
aging outlook for all crops except wheat
and oats.
From returns received from county
clerks, and estimates from counties from
which no official reports have as yet been
made, the area sown to wheat is found to
be the smallest since 1875, and will fall at
least 20 per cent below that of last year.
The weather here during the month of
April was unfavorable for the growth of
the plant too dry, and the chinch-bug
has well nigh destroyed the crop in GER
tain localities and seriously damaged it in
others, reducing the general condition to
40 per cent. Probable product, but little,
if any, in excess of the requirements of
the state for seed and bread.
The corn increase will be at least % per
cent in excess of the crop of last year,
which was larger than for any former
petiod in the history of the state. The
stand is generally good, and the outlook
for full crop was never better at this
season Of the year.
The dry weather in the early part of
the season seriously retarded the oats
growth, and the crop has suffered to
considerable extent from insect depreda-
tons, but recent rains have materially
improved the outlook, and while the
Weld per acre must fall at least 40 per
cent below the average, in view of the
area sown fair crop may yet be har-
vested. Altogether the outlook for this
years. very encouraging for Kansas far
mers
These official figures show the truth of
the statement made by the News some
time since, that less acreage of wheat
did not mean less general crop, or in
other words, crop of less aggregate
value than other years. What our far
mers lose in one direction, they make up
in another. This report shows that they
have more than made up the loss in
wheat by the increased acreage
of corn, which is our chief crop. 1t ar
CUES fair for Kansas. There is to be an
other prosperous year and nothing but
hope in the future News.